MUNCIE, Ind. -- Hurricane Matthew is derailing travel plans for many Hoosiers, including a group of Muncie women who have been looking forward to their 3-day cruise to the Bahamas.
Alisa Wells and seven of her friends and family booked their Royal Caribbean cruise in early 2016 and have anticipating it ever since.
“I am going to be 50 years old on Saturday,” said Wells. “To have this happen is devastating.”
On Wednesday, Wells received an email from Royal Caribbean that the cruise would still set sail, but one day later, on Saturday.
Wells and seven of her friends and family members were supposed to fly into Orlando on Thursday, but opted not to, given much of the state is evacuating due to Hurricane Matthew.
“I don’t think a cruise is worth risking my life,” said Wells. “We can’t get to Florida unless we’re willing to risk life and limb to fly into a hurricane the day it’s scheduled to hit.”
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Wells contacted Call 6 Investigates in the hopes of getting rebooked to a later date, or getting her money back.
After asking questions of Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean changed its decision.
It announced Thursday afternoon it would cancel the 3-day cruise to the Bahamas scheduled for this weekend.
Wells and her friends are relieved.
“You can not logically ask all of us to fly into a hurricane and just bunker down and hope that everything was ok,” said Anitra Davis, Wells’ niece.
Wells’ travel agent said the ladies should be eligible for a refund or credit toward a future cruise, now that the cruise line has opted not to set sail after all.
Wells did not use travel insurance.
“"We opted not to get it, because i was under the impression it was for if I had an emergency and was not able to cruise,” said Wells. “There was nothing but a hurricane that was going to keep us from that cruise."
Royal Caribbean’s contract says they can cancel or deviate their schedule for any reason at any time, and that refunds may be given if a cruise is canceled due to mechanical failure.
Wells still plans to have fun for her 50th birthday, but won’t be traveling to the Carribean in the summer or fall again.
“My next cruise won't be during the hurricane season,” said Wells. “I'll just wait till spring.”
Getting travel insurance may not completely protect you should a hurricane strike during your travel plans.
If you’re planning to travel during hurricane season, the best way to protect yourself is by getting “cancel for any reason” coverage included in your travel insurance policy.
TIPS FROM AAA HOOSIER MOTOR CLUB:
- There are many different types of travel insurance available; even variations within the categories of Annual, Domestic and International.
- Travel delay insurance can reimburse you for additional expenses due to a covered delay of six hours or more. Some plans may also cover lost prepaid trip expenses due to covered travel delay.
- Travel insurance plans that include trip cancellation for hurricanes and natural disasters will refund your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel before your scheduled departure due to a hurricane. But this coverage generally requires that the plan be purchased and in effect before the storm is named.
- Read your policy certificate to verify that hurricanes are listed as a covered reason for trip cancellation. If a given policy doesn't include hurricanes as a covered reason, you may still be able to add the optional "Cancel for any reason" coverage to fill the gap.
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Trip insurance is vital, for many obvious reasons... but it's essential that a traveler take the time to thoroughly discuss and understand coverages with his/her respective travel agent.
